Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-04-23
IF had been consulted-.sa said Uncle 1o,enn.

"H1had been Consulted said Uncle joseph.
NO doubt" the doctor interrupted him. NOV
near nv tale. Three years ago I happened to 4
very much in want Of money. The practice had bee,
troubled for money that consulted Mr.. Murridee a.
to the best way Of getting a loan. l then learned
tor the first time in my fe, that my second cousin
ship to an irish lord might be turnet into money
Mr. Murridge thought 1t was worth exactly tw.
hundred pounds, and for the two hundred pounds
without which l could not have sent YOU, DAFT, t.
university. l sod my reversion.'
There was some estate, then?' said Hugh. curioua
y. Il understood there was nothing"
There was this small estate OIL do not know how
many acres. and lido not know what 1t is worth. o
whether the tenants have paid any rent"
"And Mr.. Murridgc-Dick's father-bouRht Won
reversion:" said Hugh. ut seems q very strang,
thing for him to do"
"Hts business lies among scncalogies and family
histories said the doctor. HE found out what
ought to have learned before signing and selling
that my chances were really very good indeed-al
most a certainty"
Then" said Hugh. "Mr. Murridge thinks no 1
going to be the landlord. Isuppose?"
"Crrtatnly; he has bought me out"
Father" said Norah. 'you did 1t for the best. l
What does it matter? Let us al! go Oh Just as before
Hugh won't mind; will YOU. i:ush?'
NO. l don't mind, Norah. Bat l venture to make ,
little prophecy doctor. Mr.. Nurr:dge will never b
owner OF the Clonsilla estates. even il they consist o
nothing hut a four-acre field Of bog He thinks b.
has got them. but he may full that he has over
reached himself"
IF | We're con >ultesl,' said Uncle Joseph. 81 shoult
invite tho tenants to a."
Again liz W., Interrupted. This time 1t was tn,
last post OF ':e day. which brought a letter in ,
great blue enNe.nn', addressed great, sprawlin.
hand. as ii wr.ttcn with a pitchfork: For the Hon
orabie Lord Niscount Ctonsilla. somewhere In Lon
don."
ut Is the first recognition Of rank" said her lady
ship. open It and reat 1t quickly. Perhaps 1t is ,
nlisstvc from the Quren-a missive OF consratula
tion."
"or an invitation from the lord chancellor" sale
Uncle Joseph. "a summons, no doubt to a banour
on the Woolsack."
The doctor opened it curlously. 1t did not look
somehow, like an invitation. 1t was more like 8
bill. The writing of the etter was even worse
more spraw!inc-than that Of the address:
MY LORE tho letter ran: This is to warn 70,
that the mrs; man cvicted from his holding will b.
the signal for your hloo!y end. No rents. No evic
ton. Remember Lord M~ountmorres. We will hav,
vengeance. Blood and revenge. You shall die
Look at the picture. Think of the whItcboys ant
the Invincih cs. Death. Death. Death! Every maj
has got his gun. and we are sworn Death. death
B.ood and dtath. Down W tn andlords.."
And AZ the bottom. rudely designed, were d coffin
agun, a skull. effectively and feelingly delipeated
and two cr"ssbones copied from the churchyarl.
The doctor hand ri thl& Cheerful epi>tIc to his VIII,
with a laugh; but no one. even In the secure rctrea
OF fastnes' OF Camden Town. quite likes to have ,
letter sent to him with n promise OF murder ii ht
coffin and q skull.
"Murridse. suppose. has sent them all notice. t.
pay up" he sail. This is a cheerful situation. H.
is to got the rents, ana l am to get the credit 10,
then-in bullets. l don't think this was In the
agreement"
"At all events. said Hugh, they don know wher,
TO find you. Somewhere In London is a little toe
vague even 'Ur an evicted Irish tenant
"As their landlord. sal Uncle 10 ,eph, "you shou,t
gain their loyalty-bv q banquet"
""ell. children. the doctor continued. disregardins
this suggestion, you have no% heard the whott
story. What are we to do? Shall l a ter the plate o,
the door2 Shall | attend nv patien $, at an. thing
can get a visit. In my coronct? Shall we invite tn,
landlord shooters to Camden Town? What do vol
So. DafY?"
well" said the medical student. "as there Is nc
money. there will be no Jun with the title
will go on. said Sorah. 'Just as before. Only
OF course. with a little more pride. You are plea cd
Hugh. are YOU not. that you are engaged 20 a RAJ
lad by birth. and the daughter OF u viscount II be
chooses to take the title2 1t is always best to be
long to a goo family"
Yes said the doctor. Creeping Bob vas"
flush" sa. \"rah. Il vii, not h ar any stories
about my great great grandfather. There are al
ways scandal. in every old faAtly, prefer TO he
lievc that III y have all been the soul OF honor
every one of thrm.'
You are disappointed. my dcnr?" The doctor
turned to his wife.
"oh - She rricd, bursting into tears, with the rcyo-
lutionarv .ctt'r in her hand, III we are to bc muir
dcrrd Ia our beds, and all for nothing, with no
money an no land. let us say no more about 1t. But
1t Is a cru"' thing to give up your rank. And lust as
the tradcsprop!c are beginning to ind 1t out. Why,
this morning the butcher congratulated me. lie had
Just heard it. he said. And he put a penny a pound
more upon the beef"
: WELL said the doctor. that Is settled, then. The
title Is extinct. My children. you will, however, con.
tinuc to he rs honorable as you can"
Before Hugh vent to bed that night he read over
again a letter which he had received that n,or1Ins
from his mother. This was the conclusion:
And now. my dear boy. you know the whole. II
you are desirors Of acting before the doctor allows
me to travel. go to my solicitors, Messrs. Ongar s.
Grccnsted, OF Lincoln's Inn Fields. They have the
papers and know n,y secret. II It Is not necessary,
walt until my arrival. Iexpect to be released In q
week Or SO. II things go well. 10 not. however, move
In the mates without consulting them. and l do moi
think II Is prudent to tell any one-even Sorah-unt,i
you have consulted them. 1t Is vexatious To conceal
anything from her. still, have patience for u week -
Il dont think" said Hugh, "that the doctor will
mind much. Aurridge. I take II. will be ustonishcd."